Surgeons give New Orleans an economic shot in the arm

Don Ames Reporting

The largest meeting of orthopaedic surgeons in the world begins today in New Orleans.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2014 Annual Meeting runs through this Saturday.

"This is big deal for the city," says Kelly Schulz, Vice President of Communications with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. It's about 30,000 people and we expect this to have about a $35 million dollar economic impact."

"That's the great thing about these big meetings," Schulz says. "I mean, 30,00 people! You'll see them everywhere. You'll see them in our restaurants, our shops, in cultural attractions."

And, those 30,000 people expected in town this week are just the attendees, the exhibitors and the speakers.

"We know that some of the attendees will be bringing their families and extending their trip into a leisure vacation after they're done."

But, their impact will be felt all this week, as well.

"They're here to do business, and they're here network with their colleagues. But, they're also leisure travelers at the end of the day. They want to do everything that travelers to New Orleans want to do, which is enjoy our food, our music and our culture."

Hundreds of the surgeons and other volunteers will kick off the 2014 annual meeting on Tuesday by participating in the Academy's 15th Annual Safe and Accessible Playground Build. The build will benefit students and community children of Arthur Ashe Charter School, a FirstLine School, located at 1456 Gardena Drive.

Governor Jindal will address the meeting attendees on Wednesday, during the official opening ceremony. Husband-and-wife political journalists Steven and Cokie Roberts will deliver keynote address, "A View from Washington," on Thursday.

AAOS last held their Annual Meeting in New Orleans in 2010 and plans to return again in 2018.